Ir vs Venir, Llevar vs Traer

Direction matters! Go vs come, take vs bring. Think from the listener's perspective.

Ir vs Venir

Ir (to go)Venir (to come)
DirectionAway from speaker/listenerToward speaker/listener
ExampleVoy a tu casa. (I'm going to your house.)Vengo a tu casa. (I'm coming to your house.)
Key difference from English!

Phone call: "I'm coming!" = ¡Ya voy! (NOT vengo — you're moving AWAY from where you are)
At a party: "Are you coming?" = ¿Vienes? (toward the party)
English uses "come" for both, Spanish distinguishes direction.

Llevar vs Traer

Llevar (to take/carry)Traer (to bring)
DirectionAway from hereToward here
ExampleLlevo el libro a clase. (I take the book to class.)Traigo el libro a casa. (I bring the book home.)
Examples

¿Puedes traer pan? (Can you bring bread? — to here)
Voy a llevar esto a María. (I'll take this to María. — away)
Lleva paraguas, va a llover. (Take an umbrella. — carry with you)

Extra meanings

Llevar also means:

To wear: Lleva un vestido rojo. (She's wearing a red dress.)
Duration: Llevo dos años aquí. (I've been here for two years.)
To carry: Lleva las bolsas. (Carry the bags.)

Quick quiz

1. Phone: "I'm coming!" = ¡Ya _____!

2. ¿Puedes _____ pan? (bring here)

3. Voy a _____ esto a María. (take away)

4. "Are you coming to the party?" = ¿_____ a la fiesta?

5. _____ un vestido rojo. (She's wearing)

6. _____ paraguas. (Take an umbrella with you.)

7. "I'm going to your house." = _____ a tu casa.

8. ¡_____ aquí! (Come here!)

9. _____ dos años estudiando español. (I've been...)

10. "Take this to the kitchen" = _____ esto a la cocina.

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